Whatever your recreational, social or sporting interests, the wide range of opportunities in and around ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ are sure to offer something for everyone.
Cranfield is right at the centre of two very beautiful and interesting worlds: the modern city of Milton Keynes and the country town of Bedford. Both options are just a few miles away from campus.
Eating and drinking
During your time at Cranfield we can promise that you will never run out of places to eat and drink, both on and off campus. See our Eating and Drinking page for more information about our on-campus restaurants.
If you fancy branching off campus, you will be pleased to find that the surrounding areas of and offer a wide range of exciting places to eat including Indian, Chinese, European, Japanese, Nando's and popular burger joints.
Some popular places to eat in Milton Keynes include the , and .
Shopping
At the heart of Milton Keynes is the city centre, home to the and shopping centres. These together form a large, bustling shopping district, comprising over 230 stores. You’ll find high-end fashion stores such as Gap, Topshop/Topman, popular department stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams and an impressive variety of restaurants and snack stalls should you need to take a quick pit stop.
In Bedford, you will find the with 36 well-known and popular stores, from Boots to Primark, and where you’re bound to find a ‘one-of-a-kind' item. Known for its character, Bedford’s popular is also a place to visit if you enjoy new and fresh food. You will also find plenty of independent stores from cafés to jewellers pocketed around this cultural town.
Theatre and cinema
Close to Cranfield is the most successful theatre outside London’s famous West End, . Here you will find an exciting 1,400 seat theatre where the stage comes to life with musicals, opera, ballet and pantomime.
Within the centre of MK, you will find two multi-screen cinemas bringing you the latest films: (also located in Bedford), which is situated within Xscape and has one of the first 4D cinematic experiences, and the new near Milton Keynes Stadium.
Museums, galleries and culture
Milton Keynes is a designed city with a culture for art and imagination. Paired with the cultural and historical town of Bedford, there is plenty to see.
allows visitors to dive into a world of mystery and experience the secret world of the Second World War's code-breaking huts, and is also home to the National Museum of Computing.
Have a passion for art? is a thought-provoking and debate-inducing public gallery offering free access to visitors who wish to see contemporary art featured from around the world. Bedford is home to , which showcases a fascinating variety of different exhibitions throughout the year.
Woburn is also well worth a visit, with its stunning and .
For a comprehensive list of cultural places in Milton Keynes and Bedford, visit the and websites.
Sports
Milton Keynes is a sporting city with a variety on offer to excite sporting enthusiasts, regardless of whether you enjoy taking part or watching from the sidelines.
If you're a fan of motorsport, the Formula One team has its headquarters in Milton Keynes and occasionally offers tours of the premises. For those interested in the sport without the risk, is the UK's premier motorsport simulator venue. The legendary circuit can be found in nearby Northamptonshire. If you want to experience the thrill of indoor karting, head to where there is a huge indoor track to practise your driving skills.
Home to , you can watch League One football in the 30,000 all-seater capacity state-of-the-art stadium. If winter sports interest you, the place to visit is the indoor real-snow skiing and snowboarding slope, Snozone, at the . You can also watch live ice hockey at which is home to EPIHL team Milton Keynes Lightning, or join in the fun and ice skate with fellow students, family or friends.
offers a variety of water sports including wakeboarding and waterskiing. If you like the high life, the Aerial Extreme high ropes adventure may be the activity for you. Alternatively you can cycle around the lake or try your luck at adventure golf. There is also indoor adventure golf for an all-weather option.
If golf is your game, there are 10 courses within the city centre and surrounding areas including which is ranked one of the top 100 courses in the UK.
Milton Keynes is also home to the and , a 14,000 sq. ft. indoor playground with a sea of wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines, which both adults and children love.
Adventure seekers will love Indoor Skydiving, a brilliant and fun opportunity to free fly without the need for a plane.
Live music and nightlife
Milton Keynes is a truly cosmopolitan city and caters to a range of tastes.
The is home to several nightclubs, bars, restaurants, an arcade and a . also offers a selection of unique restaurants and bars, such as the Caribbean-themed or cocktail bar.
is an excellent and intimate place to listen to live music or enjoy a small concert. If you want to experience live bands or are looking for an alternative night out, the in Milton Keynes and Bedford's top independent music venue, , are well worth a visit.
Transport links
Bus services
Uno bus
The university bus that everyone can use
In partnership with Uno, we provide a dedicated, convenient and inexpensive bus service. This operates daily to and from Milton Keynes, Cranfield, Bedford and other towns and villages in the area until late in the evening. All the buses have free wi-fi and low-level entrances for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Remember to present your University student ID card to gain a student discount on the fare.
For more information, visit the .
Stagecoach X5
The X5 bus, run by Stagecoach, provides regular services between Bedford and Milton Keynes, as well as Oxford and Bicester.
For more information, visit the .
Train services
London is easily accessible via trains from both Milton Keynes and Bedford. MK Central's Avanti West Coast service to Euston takes just 35 minutes, and other major cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester are also covered. Trains from Bedford to St Pancras take around 45 minutes, and there is also a direct line to the coastal town of Brighton.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the .
Travelling outside the UK
is just over 20 miles from Bedford or 25 miles from Milton Keynes, and accessible by a regular or services from both towns.
There are also good links with several airports slightly further afield, including , , and . There is information about travel from these airports to Milton Keynes or Bedford on their respective websites. runs coaches from several major UK airports to nearby towns.
If you feel like taking a weekend trip to Europe during your time with us, the offers a convenient alternative to air travel. Take the direct rail service to London from MK or Bedford and, from nearby St Pancras station, you can board trains to several European cities including Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. (Please note that booking tickets in advance is essential for Eurostar services).
